Remco Evenepoel finds lifeline in Islamic rituals with his wife during hard times: "Praying is something very unique that we share together"
CyclingSaturday, 19 April 2025 at 09:19
After a great period in the middle of 2024 season, things went sideways for Remco Evenepoel past winter. But the Olympic champion pulled through the hardships and now is ready to finally write down his first start of 2025 - at Brabantse Pijl.
"We have prayed together often and will continue to do so, that is also something wonderful that you have taught me. It is wonderful to share that with you," wrote Remco Evenepoel earlier this week in an extensive and emotional message on Instagram. It should therefore come as no surprise that it was discussed again at the press conference for the Brabantse Pijl today.
"This past year I really got to know that - it's something I share with Oumi," Evenepoel replied. "For me it's a lifeline to get through life. It's a beautiful thing. Oumi and I prayed a lot and that was a lifeline during a difficult time."
Evenepoel shares certain values and rituals from Islam with Oumi, things that he personally benefits from. This was already visible in images of the wedding party, which was also accompanied by a so-called Henna Day. That's the Moroccan bachelor party, so to speak.
In an exclusive interview with VTM NIEUWS, Evenepoel elaborated on this a bit more. "Praying is something very unique that we share together. It’s just a very nice moment together. It also ensures that you get a certain calmness about yourself, that you can accept things more easily. That has all ensured that I have become calmer inside. That I have started to deal with everything a bit more calmly, after a rather stormy period."
"I get extra strength and motivation from it. Asking for certain wishes, for example, and just making sure that everything remains stable. A nice support to have throughout the day."
Does Evenepoel want to convert too? "That hasn't been discussed yet. It's just something fun that we do at home. A nice thing that we share together."
claps 10visitors 10
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
May 12, 11:09
0
Popular news
Latest comments
- For every stage he loses time, he says it did not suit him.abstractengineer31-05-2025
- You do know you aren't allowed "teammates" on the TT, right? he lost 1.5 minutes there. Then the next day he didn't run out of teammates, he just ran out of gas. Yates and Majka headed up the road to salvage something for UAEmobk31-05-2025
- Jonas, along with Mathieu will be remembered as some of the very few that took on the great Pogaçar when some people argued it wasn’t possible.Jumpyjohn31-05-2025
- Yep, one year out of sync.Jumpyjohn31-05-2025
- He was dominant in the 2020 Tour, shepherded by a dominant team. Pogacar stayed close. No one could have predicted how a superstar could emerge in that final time trial.
Barney31-05-2025 - The question is, why was he weak? The answer, he was following all the moves himself, quite a few times because he was isolated with no teammates. If he has teammates deeper into the stages, he doesn't need to cover attacks. If he doesn't have to cover attacks, he won't crack. This is all simple stuff, especially for folks who actually watch all the stages.Chazz2031-05-2025
- This is easy math. Tadej races more single day races. Discrepancy solved.Chazz2031-05-2025
- Gravels not hard to ride - let the bike ride itself, 'keep balance etc..
leedorney30-05-2025 - If Tadej has just one or two days of weakness like 22 or 23 Jonas could still winmobk30-05-2025
- The boring guy who "only rides the TdF" has just as many race days as Tadej over the last 4.5 years (230 vs 235) despite having far more serious injury. In Jonas's biggest year of racing he raced 68 days, a total Tadej has never reached. So while Tadej is clearly the superior all round rider, the criticism that Jonas only does the Tour is ridiculous.mobk30-05-2025
Cyclinguptodate staff, are you there? I thought this was meant to be a site about cycling and cyclists. It's straying far frim that now.
I thought this was about Remco, one of the current greatest cyclists? In that respect, if we’re going to analyse what makes them tick or better than others, I don’t mind hearing what they have to say is helping them get through what must be tough circumstances, you’d probably not have said a thing if he’d said he decided to look for strength in church and that used to be pretty common amongst athletes from our part of the world (who often still cross their hearts before an event or e.g. taking a penalty). We discuss the gas they breathe, the cocktails they swallow, the painkillers they use, the therapies they need, what’s wrong with where they look to for mental strength, be that religion, hypnosis, their partner, meditation, hormone stimulation or whatever works for them?
Nothing wrong at all. You are completely misconstruing what I've said, so I'll simply move on.
Well, as you’re ambiguous about it and refuse to clarify, yes, good idea.
Oumaïma Rayane seems like fairly credible evidence for the existence of at least some version of god.
And another one bites the dust...
Remco did bite the dust, hard. He has credited his wife with helping him to come back from that.
I’m pretty sure they have their priorities in a good order and they both seem to be the opposite of those who try to dictate their beliefs onto others,
Sure, hopefully Islam will work out for the best.
There's a first time for everything.
She does not wear the Hijab. So doubt they will be very welcomed by the orthodox community
C’mon, she « married » an infidel, the hijab is just the missing cherry on their fatwa cake ;-)